A group of researchers just reported positive results of a phase 3 trial showing that the addition of radiation therapy (RT) improves overall survival in men with locally advanced prostate cancer (T3 & T4) to androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) alone.
The researchers used a sample of 1,057 men with locally advanced (T3 or T4) prostate cancer or organ-confined prostate cancer (T2) with either a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) concentration more than 40 ng/mL (n=119) or PSA concentration more than 20 ng/mL and a Gleason score of 8 or higher (n=25). The men were randomly assigned to receive lifelong ADT and RT (65—69 Gy to the prostate and seminal vesicles, 45 Gy to the pelvic nodes) or just ADT. The primary endpoint was overall survival.
The results reported are of an interim analysis planned for when two-thirds of the events for the final analysis were recorded. All efficacy analyses were done by intention to treat and were based on data from all patients. This trial is registered a